BMW 5-Series Autonomous (Self-driving) Prototype – CES 2017

Features a fully-autonomous parking feature, along with in-car connectivity using Open Mobility Cloud services.

All all-new, self-driving BMW 5-Series has been unveiled at the on-going Consumer Electronics Show 2017, Las Vegas. The German automaker calls the displayed model a ‘prototype’, although it appears production-ready. The car also previews the company’s pursuit of establishing a line-up of autonomous cars by 2021.

Based on the regular 7th-generation 2017 BMW 5-Series, the self-driving prototype uses an on-board computer that helps the it to position itself and know surroundings on a digital map. Therefore, apart from reckoning optimal routes and timing based on traffic and road conditions, the car can also minutely stick to its lanes and maintain optimal speeds based on road inclinations.

The self-driving BMW 5-Series features ‘Passenger Mode’, upon activation takes control of driving using positioning via digital map

All the driver has to do is select destinations with other appointments on the way and switch to “Passenger” mode. He/ She can forget about driving and start using in-car entertainment and data services using Open Mobility Cloud, like Amazon Prime apps in their smartphones. The vehicle will also get to know if you can any product pick-ups for the driver along the route!

And comes the Robot Valet Parking feature, which can autonomously park the car and drive it back to the spot – all seamlessly integrated with the driver’s smartphone. BMW has also included few gesture control techs from the bigger 7-Series for this autonomous car.

Related

Dhiyanesh is equally crazy about driving cars and writing about them. This guy loves everything with a steering wheel, so, at someday if self-driving cars take up all driving, he is sure to go nuts! He likes sedans of 90s era, esp W140 S-Class and R34 Skyline GT. Apart from usual motoring stuffs, he maintains a strong appetite for sociological perspectives on cars, their historical and cultural footprints. He owns a 1999 Fiat Siena passionately, and drives a Ford Fiesta.